Pennsylvania voters give Gov. Ed. Rendell a 46 - 38 percent approval rating, one of his
lowest marks ever, but he still holds double-digit leads over any likely Republican
challenger in his bid for reelection next year, according to a Quinnipiac University poll
released today.

The Governor started the year with a 51 - 33 percent approval in a February 17 poll
by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University, and has dropped slightly in
every poll since.

The Governor deserves to be reelected, voters say 48 - 41 percent, consistent with
other poll findings this year. He still leads several possible Republican challengers:

47 - 34 percent over former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton;

47 - 34 percent over former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann;

52 - 26 percent over State Sen. Jeff Piccola;

53 - 23 percent over Jim Panyard, former head of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers'
Association.

"For a governor who signed the despised legislative pay raise and saw his plan
to use gambling money to lower property taxes go down in flames, Ed Rendell ought to
be called 'Teflon Ed,'" said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac
University Polling Institute.

"While the legislature's approval rating has sunk into the basement, the governor's
hovers in the mid-40's - respectable under the circumstances. More importantly, he still
holds double-digit leads over all GOP challengers."

"Meanwhile, the Republicans face the prospect of a bruising battle over picking a
candidate to oppose Rendell, with Lynn Swan and Bill Scranton neck and neck in a race
where undecided is still in the lead."

In a Republican primary for Governor, Swann gets 26 percent, with 23 percent for
Scranton, a tie, 5 percent for Piccola, 2 percent for Panyard, with 39 percent undecided.

Legislative Pay Raise

State lawmakers should repeal the pay raise they voted themselves, 61 percent of
Pennsylvania voters say in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another
22 percent say the pay hike should be scaled down, with 11 percent who say leave it as is.

But 67 percent of voters don't know how their local state legislator voted on the pay
hike and voters say 57 - 37 percent that they would not vote against their local lawmaker
just because of his/her vote on the pay raise.

The pay hike is excessive, 74 percent of voters say in poll, while 18 percent say it is
just about right and 5 percent say it isn't enough. Attitudes are consistent among
Democrats, Republicans and independent voters.

"While voters think the legislative pay raise is excessive and want it repealed, it
does not appear that lawmakers will suffer greatly at the polls for making themselves the
second best paid legislature in the country. First of all, two thirds of the voters don't know
how their individual legislator voted on the pay raise and secondly, 57 percent say they
wouldn't vote against him or her just because of the pay raise vote," Richards said.

From September 27 - October 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,530
Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. The survey
includes 663 Republican voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and the nation
as a public service and for research.

For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ed Rendell is handling his job as
Governor?

23. Members of the Pennsylvania legislature make about $81,000 with the pay
raise, more than any state except California. Considering the importance of the
work they do, would you say Pennsylvania ranking second in pay in the nation is
excessive, just about right, or not enough?

25. If your state senator or state representative voted for the pay raise,
would you vote against him or her solely on the pay raise vote?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 37% 32% 35% 46% 39% 35%
No 57 62 58 51 56 58
DK/NA 6 6 7 3 5 7

27. (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for Governor were
being held today and the candidates were Jeff Piccola, Bill Scranton, Lynn Swann
and Jim Panyard for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for Governor
were being held today and the candidates were Jeff Piccola, Bill Scranton, Lynn
Swann and Jim Panyard for whom would you vote? (n/a = not asked)